Thursday, 23 October 2014

Bizarre New Animals

Sandhopper. The British Antarctic Survey ventured into the depths of the Southern Ocean. The sandhopper is a usually tiny amphipod. Sandhoppers have grown enormously to fill in the place of crabs in the ecosystem.

Jumping Spider. Discovered by Conservation International in Papua New Guinea in 2009.

Pea Sized Frog. Found in August 2010, the Microhyla nepenthicola frog was discovered in a pitcher plant on Borneo. At first, scientists assumed they were looking at young frogs, but soon concluded that even the largest of the adult males fail to reach more than half an inch in length.

Crystal Frog. Found in the jungle of Ecuador this crystal frog has skin so translucent, you can see its heart beating through its tiny chest.

Ice Fish. No red blood cells course through the veins of this fish. Instead, it has antifreeze.

A Tiny Titi Monkey. Researchers say that as soon as it was discovered, it could be considered endangered. Deforestation in the Colombian Amazon is rampant, and this fuzzy monkey lives in the forest.

Gastric Brooding Frog. Last seen in 1985, scientists are searching for evidence of this gastric brooding frog in the wilds of Australia. Frogs were found to raise its young in a truly bizarre manner: Females swallow the eggs, and alter the chemistry of their stomachs so that tadpoles can develop in the absence of acidic digestive juices. Then they give birth through their mouths.

Ugly Salamander. The name says it all for these salamanders from Ecuador.